Brazil’s president declares 3 days of mourning over rock queen’s death

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree Tuesday declaring three days of national mourning over the death Rita Lee, who is regarded as the country’s undisputed “Queen of Rock.”

The 75-year-old musician, composer and co-founder of the band Os Mutantes died Monday night at her residence in Sao Paulo after a two-year battle with lung cancer. Lee’s family confirmed her death on social media.

Lula expressed his condolences and admiration for the late singer on his Twitter account.

"Rita Lee Jones is one of the biggest and brightest names in Brazilian music. Singer, composer, actress and multi-instrumentalist. An artist ahead of her time. She thought the title of rock queen was inappropriate, but the moniker does justice to her career," he wrote.

Lee was born in Sao Paulo on Dec. 31, 1947. She was a pioneer in Brazil's music scene, merging traditional music and sounds from her homeland with the wave of US and British rock, pop and psychedelia.

Her prime in Brazilian music came amid Brazil's military dictatorship. A provocateur, co-founder and lead singer of Os Mutantes, she used her music and aesthetic to challenge the ongoing authoritarianism in her country.

"She spared nothing and no one with her humor and eloquence. She confronted misogyny in life and music and inspired generations of women in rock and art. She will never be forgotten and leaves her legacy in music and books for millions of fans around the world. My fraternal embrace to the children Beto, João and Antônio, family and friends. Rita, now you’re missed," wrote Lula.

The wake will be open to the public at the Planetarium of Ibirapuera Park on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.